good day all,The 2017 prize is getting packaged to send to Nantonoyama.So it's time for the once-a-year invite to the easiest picking (guessing) sumo game ever. No need for daily picks, no need for pre-basho picks; just a pair of picks will last a whole year!

Here's how it works.The symbolic TORCH starts with the last rikishi and last rank on the 2017 HATSU BANZUKE (rikishi/rank at the bottom of jonokuchi). If the rikishi wins his bout (called a TORCH MATCH), he keeps the TORCH. If he loses, the TORCH is passed to the winner. Through the year, the TORCH will eventually make way up the banzuke as it is always passed to the winner. The object of the game is to pick the one rank and one rikishi you think will end up with the most points throughout the year's six bashos. Points are awarded to every rikishi and rank involved in a TORCH MATCH; and to players who finish closest to the final TORCH position at the end of the year.

FINAL TORCH POINTS AT THE END OF THE 2017 KYUSHU BASHO:25 points if you picked the final TORCH holding rikishi.25 points if you picked the final TORCH holding rank.PLUS...10 points to the player(s) closest to the final TORCH holding rikishi.10 points to the player(s) closest to the final TORCH holding rank.9 points to the 2nd closest picks.8 points to the 3rd closest picks.7 points to the 4th closest picks.6 points to the 5th closest picks.5 points to the 6th closest picks.4 points to the 7th closest picks.3 points to the 8th closest picks.2 points to the 9th closest picks.1 point to the 10th closest picks.

(so if my math is correct, a minimum of 110 points (55 rank/55 rikishi) are guaranteed to be handed out at the end of the year)

To play, please submit:1) the rikishi you think will get the most points between now and the end of the 2017 Kyushu Basho.and2) the rank you think will get the most points between now and the end of the 2017 Kyushu Basho.

The deadline for entries is one minute before the first TORCH MATCH starts... JST. Send new entries or updated entries to shimodahito(at)yahoo.com, by message on the forum, or post on this sonstige Spiele thread. For players who miss the deadline, your 2017 picks will carry over to TORCHBEARER 2018 (as long as your rikishi pick is still active).

A "wildcard" drone pick, by default will be the lowest rikishi and rank on the HATSU BANZUKE and cannot be selected by any other player.

Good luck! The game is painless...one rank pick, one rikishi pick... no daily picks needed…. And a prize.

MAKUUCHI:Pandaazuma............S................HitotsubushiSukubidubidu..........K.................HoshihitomiAchiyama..............M1.................Fatakiyamashimodahito...........M2..............ProfomisakariKuroimori.............M3.................PitinosatoKintamayama...........M4..................YubinhaadJejima................M5.................ChisaiyamaYoohoo................M6.....................KonradMmikasazuma...........M7..............Ganzohnesushiyorikiried-by-fate....M8................KiritsubakiChishafuwaku..........M9...Daughter of SukubidubiduSaruyama..............M10....................AjisenUmigame...............M11.................ShokikogiTerarno...............M12.....................crallFuranohana............M13..................WamahadaShitamachi............M14.................nomadwolfCydrome...............M15.....................Jason

RIKISHISHACHINOFUJI vs HATTORIZAKURA (who was also in the 2016 & 2017 first TORCH match of the year!!!)RANKJONOKUCHI 25 WEST vs JONOKUCHI 24 WEST

Player(s) up for points:the Wildcard's (ceremonial default) rikishi/rank pick is JONOKUCHI 25 WESTMutsu’ohideki's rikishi pick is HATTORIZAKURAa loss = 1 point, but a win = 3 points and an opportunity for more points in the next torch match

Which brings us to the next TORCH match. I can’t recall there ever being three players up for points while the TORCH was in the Sandanme ranks as there is on DAY 8:

RIKISHIWAKANOFUJI vs SHOJIRANKSANDANME 32 EAST vs SANDANME 37 EAST

Player(s) up for points:Haidouzo’s rikishi pick is SHOJIKintamayama’s rikishi pick is SHOJISaruyama’s rikishi pick is SHOJIa loss = 1 point, but a win = 3 points and an opportunity for more points in the next torch match

Good day all,Unkonoyama joins the leader and another TORCH match on Nagoya Day 6:

RIKISHIJOKORYU vs IRODORIRANKMAKUSHITA 5 EAST vs MAKUSHITA 6 WEST

Player(s) up for points:Shatsume’s rikishi pick is JOKORYULord Chorzo’s rank pick is MAKUSHITA 6 WESTTaikoubana’s rank pick is MAKUSHITA 5 EASTa loss = 1 point, but a win = 3 points and an opportunity for more points in the next torch match

Good day all,Here we go with plenty of points on the opener, and all players are up for their first points. TORCH MATCH on Day One!:

RIKISHIHAKUYOZAN vs GAGAMARURANKJURYO 12 WEST vs JURYO 12 EAST

Player(s) up for points:Holleshoryu’s rank pick is JURYO 12 WESTMcBugger’s rank pick is JURYO 12 WESTMmikasazuma’s rank pick is JURYO 12 WEST Shokikogi’s rank pick is JURYO 12 EAST Sukubidubidu’s rank pick is JURYO 12 EAST Chisaiyama’s rikishi pick is GAGAMARUDaughter of Sukubidubidu’s rikishi pick is GAGAMARUa loss = 1 point, but a win = 3 points and an opportunity for more points in the next torch match